Tag Archives: Conventions

My 1st Proper Update ( and about chuffing time too)

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Welcome one and all to the shiny new WordPress flavour of my Mid Life Crisis. As of today my Blogger blog is on ice and I’ll be doing all my updates here only. I am going to endeavour to update more regularly than before but in all honesty how long that lasts is anyone’s guess.

So without further ado. My latest nonsense.

The Amazing SpiderCheesecake

I saw The Amazing Spiderman yesterday and I have to admit I was pretty impressed. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone share a great on-screen chemistry. There were lots of nice little awkward moments between the two that made their burgeoning relationship feel very real. Speaking of awkwardness Garfield does a outstanding job playing the king of  geeky teenagers, Peter Parker. Even when he becomes Spiderman he didn’t entirely lose that sense of uncoordination it was always there lurking in the background. Mrs Cheesecake was impressed with the movement that the new Spiderman was exhibiting. Using a style heavily influenced by parkour it seemed more natural than the previous movies.

Unsurprisingly Martin Sheen and Sally Field were pitch perfect as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Sheen is utterly convincing and Field brought a nice modern take to a character that has deserved an update for years.

Eagle-eye views will no doubt notice some small nods to the larger Spiderman universe. I really hope that they expand upon these glimpses next time out. Admittedly it is going to be bloody difficult to top J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. (c‘mon he was fucking splendid, admit it).

I was a little dubious when I heard they were rebooting this franchise, it all seemed a little unnecessary, but now that I’ve seen the results I’m happy to say I have been convinced otherwise. Marc Webb, the director, has shied away from overtly comic conventions and I think works all the better for it. This film falls somewhere in middle ground between the more realistic approach of The Dark Knight and the outrageous spectacle of The Avengers. I heard the other day that Sony are committing to a trilogy with this new cast. Good news. Perhaps we’ll finally see a cinematic interpretation of Electro or Kraven the Hunter?

So Close I Can Smell It

Last July I realised that my dietary habits were, frankly, fucking shocking. I was waddling about at 17st 8lbs (that’s 246lbs American chums) and giving Mrs Cheesecake endless sleepless nights due to may incessant snoring. Now nearly a year to the day  later I am 14st 6lbs (202lbs) and, I’ll be honest, I haven’t felt this good in a long while. As regular readers are aware I’ve been going to the gym regularly for the last six months. That and a healthier diet are starting to pay off. Just 3 more pounds and I’ll be under 200. Its been years and years since I have been that light. (I best keep an eye on things I don’t want to blow away in a strong gust of wind).

Once I hit may target (I’m aiming to drop another 12lbs at least) that’s when things are going to get really tricky.  I’ll need to try to find that elusive balance that will allow me to maintain a healthy lifestyle without falling off the wagon. I don’t ever want to go back to the way I was before. Enjoying my sessions in the gym should help with that. I guess I am going to have to remain ever vigilant.

Ohh and according the Mrs Cheesecake my snoring is a lot quieter than it was before as well.

EdgeLit

This coming weekend I’m going to be in Derby for EdgeLit. Looking forward to it. Every convention I go to is an experience in itself. What makes a con for me? It’s the people that you meet. Though I am naturally quite shy once I get chatting and I come out my shell a bit there is really no stopping me. So if your going to be there and spot a tall, hirsute looking man with bright red hair feel free to engage him in conversation. There is every possibility it may even be me. (I appreciate that I do look a little bit like the bastard son of a Crimewatch photofit and an escaped grizzly bear but honestly I’m harmless and will be happy to natter to anyone).

Thats all for now friends

Till next time, stay golden

The Amazing SpiderCheesecake

High Time for an Update

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Once again over a month has hurtled by and I have not managed to post even the most rudimentary of blog posts. I really don’t know where the time disappears to. I think I have to make a bit more of an effort (we’ve all heard that one before haven’t we. didn’t stick to it last time so unlikely I’ll stick to it again but fuck it I’ll give it a try.)

The Running Man

First some good news. I am now well over the first 100K of my epic 500K for 2012 (I’m at 130K fact fans). A few thoughts have struck now that I have established a bit of a rhythm to the challenge.

  1. Running on a treadmill can get a little boring. I am starting to picture myself as a giant 6ft 2 hamster. That probably isn’t a good thing unless I was a furry (I’m not). I’ve wondered about asking the gym to provide some sort of incentive to liven things up. Perhaps releasing a wildcat into the room? That would certainly make things more exciting wouldn’t it?
  2. Thought I know the exercise is doing me good my there are moments when my body seems to disagree. Various aches and pains are starting to make themselves known on a regular basis. The most peculiar injury so far is a strain to the middle finger of my left hand. Don’t know how I managed it and the bloody thing just won’t go away.
  3.  Ultimately I suppose that it’s all good. No pain, no gain and all that. Since the start of this epic journey I’ve gone from 17st 8lbs to 15st 4lbs. This brings my total weight loss overall since I started to 32lbs. Hopefully this time I’ll keep it all off!

Techno-Envy

My arch-nemesis came back to haunt me with a vengeance over the last couple of weeks. The 21st century green eyed monster I have labelled ‘techno-envy‘ has reared its ugly head again. First the new iPads were unleashed (I know, I know. I don’t need one. Doesn’t mean I don’t want one though) and then I made the mistake of switching on my old laptop. Compared to Mrs Cheesecake’s new beast of a desktop my laptop is, frankly, a bit shite. I’ve since found myself here regularly drooling at all the fine bits of kit that are on offer. I foresee a purchase on the horizon.

The Social Media Brick Wall

I think that I have reached an impasse when it comes to all the social media that I currently inhabit. Hmmm, how best to explain? You would think that using Twitter/FB/Blogger et al for years now that I would be getting more confident and better at navigating through the technological molasses that is the internet? No, not at all. In fact, if anything, I am getting worse. I’ve done a terrible job of promoting my review site and seem to fail regularly at connecting online with other like minded peoples. Due to this my apathy towards all forms of social media seems to be growing exponentially. I get frustrated and annoyed far too quickly. (I should stress here that my anger and frustation are almost entirely directed at myself).

Perhaps some sort of self imposed exile may be in order just so I can come back to this arena at a later date with a more positive attitude to it all. I just don’t know the best way out of this techno-funk? The solution to my current malaise may require more brain power than I previously thought.

The Con is On!

I am however somewhat hopeful that my overcast mood will soon lift. Why? Well, Alt.Fiction is very nearly upon us. I was fortunate enough to attend last year and I had a rather good time. This year the event takes place in Leicester . Never been there before so it’ll be interested to check out somewhere new.

My one resolution for this year is the same as it always is – try and be a bit less shy. You might not realise this to look at me but inside I’m just a huge, uncoordinated, awkward bag of nerves when around people I’m slightly in awe of. For clarification I am in awe of anyone who is more creative than I am (so that’s effectively the entire population of the planet).

Anyway, if you happen to be there and you see a slightly bemused looking Scotsman with bright red hair please do say hello. I will certainly try and respond. Perhaps even using something that resembles a human language? Your guess is as good as mine.

Right I’ve had enough of the writing malarkey for now. I’ll leave with a bit of abstract art that Mrs Cheesecake and I crafted while out shopping last night. It’s a reflective piece that offers insight into the rampant consumerism that plagues our planet….

Rude words, run away!

…or it may just be childish, fucking about.

TTFN